Machine for treating box toe blanks and counter stiffeners with a conditioning liquid



March 17, 1953 c. M. STAUFFER EI'AL ,6 1,564

MACHINE FOR TREATING BOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIFFENERS WITH Acounrnomwc LIQUID I 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed April f5, 1949 v gvwwvto'bCHRISTIAN MUSSER STAUFFER.

' GEORGE E. EHLE attoww March 17, 1953 c. M. SII'AUFFER EF'AL 2,631,564

MACHINE FOR TREATING BOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIF'F'ENERS WITH ACONDITIONING LIQUID Filed April 6, 1949' '2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Mar. 17, 1953 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE MAGHINE FOR TREATINGBOX TOE BLANKS AND COUNTER STIFFENERS WITH A CON- DITIONING LIQUIDApplication April 6, 1949, Serial No. 85,784

8 Claims. 1

This invention relates to conditioning machines and more particularly tobox toe and counter stiffener conditioning machines customarily used inshoe factories. The machine is particularly useful in conditioning boxtoes and the like by application to the blank of a conditioning solutionwhich may be in the nature of an activator for the impregnant of theblank and a softening solvent, as in the case of blanks containing awater soluble urea type saturant, or a solvent alone, as in the case ofblanks containing a. cellulose type s-aturant.

The conditioning machines are generally provided adjacent other shoemanufacturing equipment such as a pull-over machine, and theconditioning machine for box toe treatment should be capable ofconveniently and quickly receiving a blank and delivering the treatedblank in a sof tened or mulled condition ready for insertion into theshoe at the pulling-over station, for; example. One conditioning machinewill normally be re.- quired for each pull-over machine operator; and itshould, therefore, be low in cost but eilicient in operation. In mostfactories, the pull-over machine will not be operated continuously dayin and day out but will be down for considerable periods, overnightfrequently, and over. weekends; and it is desirable, therefore, toprovidepa machine which may be readily taken down for cleaning by theoperator to remove the treating solution and clean out accumulations oflint and the like from the toe blanks or other articles which have beenconditioned.

The objects of the invention are to provide a conditioning unit whichmay be economically produced, which is preferably of portable design,which will rapidly and efliciently perform the conditioning operation,which will receive and deliver the blanks at the front of the machinefor the convenience of the operator, and which may be readily dismantledfor cleaning. Other objects will be obvious from a consideration of thecomplete description which follows.

Generally stated the conditioning machine of this invention includes atank for the reception of the conditioning solution. Preferably there isprovided an arrangement for supplying the conditioning solution to thetank from a bulk supply and for maintaining the solution at a desiredlevel in the tank. A barometric feeding device will serve admirably forthis purpose. Means are provided for directing a blank to be treatedinto the solution in the tank and for extracting excess solution fromthe blank substantially instantaneously with removal of the (Cl. 118-2i6) blank from the treating solution. This arrangement preferablyincludes a dip roll which is positioned on the tank in such manner thatthe dip roll surface is brought into the solution in the tank as theroll is rotated. In other words the roll has a portion of its surfacenormally belov, the level of the treating solution, but the wholeroll isnot immersed. A squeeze roll 15 mounted above the dip roll and ispreferably weighted so as to apply pressure to the treated blank as itmoves between the rolls to express excess treating solution. The diproll thus serves a dual purpose: first moving the blank for contact withthe conditioner solution and then for the expression of excess solution.The dip roll is preferably motor-driven and the squeeze roll idles,being rotated by frictional engagement with the dip roll or the blankcarried by the dip roll.

In order to deliver the blank into the solution and then to the nipbetween the squeeze roll and dip roll, a guide is provided which extendspartially around the dip roll and is flared at the entrance end toreceive a blank and direct it into engagement with the rotating diproll. The guide is provided with openings which permit the treatingsolution to flow into the space between the roll and guide. The guideyieldingly presses the blank into engagement with the dip roll andcauses the same to assume the contour of the roll. The guide is arrangedto direct the blank into'the nip between the dip and squeeze rolls; andthe blank in softened condition is delivered at the front of themachineto the operator, ready for assembly with other shoe parts.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a perspective View. partially broken away, of a conditioningmachine embodying the present invention; and

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the machine.

Referring to the drawings, the conditioner includes a tank 2, a dip roli3, and a squeeze roll 4. The tankz is mounted upon a frame 5 and, isreadily demountable therefrom. A supply reservoir 6 is provided for thetank 2 and includes a bottle I with a barometric feed arrangement 8, asshown in Figure 2. This is effective for continuously maintaining adesired level of conditioning liquid in the tank 2. The reservoir 6 isconnected to the tank 2 by a passageway 9, The level of liquid willnormally lie slightly below the axis of the dip roll 3 as indicated inFigure 2.

Mounted upon the tank 2 is a stub shaft is upon which there is supportedfor rotation a pulley ll. Fixed to the pulley ii and rotatable about theshaft 3 :3 is a spur gear 92 which meshes with a gear 53 attached to aspindle I i forming part of the dip roll 3. The spindle 2- 5- isjournalled in slideable bearing members which fit into guidewaysprovided in the sides of the tank 2. Thus the roll 3 may be readilyremoved from the tank. A motor it is also mounted on the frame 5, and itdrives the pulley ii through a belt ll entrained about a pulley I8afiixed to the motor shaft.

The squeeze roll i is provided with a spindle I 9 which is journalled inbearings 29 and 2! which are pivoted to the tank 2 at 22 so that thesqueeze roll d may be moved out of position to permit the roll 3 to beremoved and to facilitate cleaning of the roll d as well. The roll t ispreferably weighted so as to apply a squeezing force to the treatedarticle, as will be more fully discussed later. This weighting may beaccomplished by springs 23 which are tensioned between pins 2 1 and 25on the tank 2 and on the pivoted bearings 28 and 2 l. Roll is notmotor-driven but rotates by contact with driven dip roll 3 or thearticle under treatment which embraces the dip roll 3.

In order to direct an article 23 into the treating solution in the tank2 and to cause the article to follow the roll 3, a perforated dip rollguide 2? is provided which is disposed about the periphery of the roll 3but is spaced therefrom a distance sufficient to permit the article orblank 25 which is to be treated to move therebetween. With box toeblanks, the blank will normally be relatively stiff until wetted withthe treating solution; and, therefore, the guide will be flared outwardlat its entrance end as indicated at 28 in Figure 2. It will be observedthat the dip roll guide 27 extends above the axis of the roll 3 at theexit end 23 of the dip roll guide 21 and thus directs the blank inwardlytoward the hip 30 between the rolls 3 and When the article 2% reachesthis position, it is in a softened condition but contains an excess oftreating solution. As the blank is delivered through the nip between therolls 3 and 4 excess solution is removed from the blank and is returnedto the tank 2. The degree of removal can be adjusted by varying theWeighting on the roll l, as by changing the tension applied by thesprings 23.

A table 3! is provided over the tank 2 and extends forwardly of the diproll guide 21. The treated blank 25 is delivered from the rolls 3 and ionto this table 3!. A plurality of upstanding supporting fingers 32 areprovided on the table adjacent the dip roll guide 2'! to facilitate themovement of the treated blank, which is in a soft, flaccid condition,from the rolls 3 and 4 without substantial wrinkling and also to provideopen spaces below the blank for the fingers of the operator to makeremoval of the treated blank from the table more convenient. An inclinedplate may be used or spaced rods could be substi tuted.-

If desired, a feeding guide 33 may be provided into which the articlesto be treated may be disposed, one at a time. In the embodimentillustrated, the feeding guide 353 is provided with two feeding pockets3% and 35 into which the blanks to be treated may be slipped and willthen be guided into the flared end 28 of the dip roll guide 2?. A singlepocket may be provided, or more than two pockets may be employed asrequired by the particular manufacturing operations involved. It will beobserved that this feeding ,flared mouth 23 of the dip roll guide 27.

guide arrangement will support a stifi blank in a substantially verticalposition where it will be free to fall by gravity into the flared openend 28 of the dip r011 guide 21.

A table 36 may be provided on the reservoir 6, and blanks 37 to betreated may be stacked on this table. The table 36, the guides 2'! and33, and the reservoir 6 may be fabricated from sheet stainless steel.The clip roll 3 is preferably made of stainless steel, with a syntheticrubber outer face secured thereto. The squeeze roll 4 may also be ofstainless steel and is preferably uncovered. The tank 2 and frame 5 maybe of cast aluminum.

,The motor It and the pulley and gearing arrangement are such that thedip roll is driven at about revolutions per minute. This speed is notcritical.

In operation of the device, a blank to be treated is disposed within oneof the pockets 35 or 35 of the feed guide 33 and falls by gravity intothe The frictional surface of the dip roll draws the blank downwardlyand into the treating solution. The dip roll guide causes the blank toassume a position in contact with the guide roll 3 and directs thetreated blank into the nip 35 between the rolls 3 and t. This removesexcess treating solution from the blank which is then moved over thesupporting fingers 32 of the table 3| where it may be convenientlygrasped by the operator and lasted in a shoe or otherwise manipulated.

In cleaning the device, the feeding guide is removed; and the springs 23are removed from the pins 25. The squeeze roll 4 i then rotated aboutthe pivots 22. The clip roll 3 is then removed; and the dip roll guide2?, which is preferably attached to or integral with the table 3i isremoved, exposing the tank 2 for cleaning.

The device of the present invention is thus simple in construction,sufficiently light in weight to be convenientl transportable, easilydemountable for cleaning, positive in operation, and requires a minimumof essential parts for performing the conditioning operation.

While we have illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of ourinvention, it will be understood that the same is not limited theretobut may be otherwise embodied and practiced within the scope of thefollowing claims.

We claim: 7

1. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle forconditioning solution, a dip roll the peripheral face of which is bathedin said solution, a squeeze roll disposed above said dip roll to form anip with said dip roll, a guide partially enclosing said dip roll fordirecting an article disposed between said guide and dip roll to causethe same to follow said dip roll into said receptacle tobe immersed inthe conditioning solution therein and then into the nip between the diproll and squeeze roll to remove excess conditioning solution from thearticle, and a chute disposed above said clip roll, forwardly of saidsqueeze roll, and spaced from and above said guide for directing thearticle to be treated into a position between said dip roll and guide,the space between said chute and guide providing for the delivery of thetreated article in a substantially horizontal position by said clip andsqueeze rolls at the front of the machine.

2. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1, the combinationincludin means for maintaining a constant level of conditioning solutionin said receptacle, said means including a reservoir and means fordelivering liquid from said reservoir to said receptacle.

3. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1 the combination"including a reservoir for conditioning solution and a barometric feederfor delivering liquid from said reservoir to said receptacle, whereby asubstantially constant level of conditioning solution is maintained insaid receptacle.

4. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 1, the combinationincluding a resilient working surface on the dip roll.

5. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle forconditioning solution, a dip roll the peripheral face of which is bathedin said solution, a squeeze roll disposed to form a nip with said diproll, a guide spaced from and partially enclosing said dip roll fordirectin an article to be conditioned to follow said clip roll into saidreceptacle to be immersed in conditioning solution therein and then intothe nip between the dip roll and squeeze roll to remove excessconditioning solution from the article, a substantially vertical chutedisposed above said dip r011, forwardly of said squeeze roll, and spacedfrom and above said guide for directing the article into the spacebetween said dip roll and guide, the space between said chute and guideproviding for the delivery of the treated article in a substantiallyhorizontal position by said dip and squeeze rolls at the front of themachine, and a discharge table disposed forwardly of said rolls for thereception of an article passing from the nip between said dip roll andsqueeze roll.

6. In a conditioning machine as recited in claim 5, the combinationincluding a plurality of upstanding projections on the table for thesupport of said article in an elevated position at a plu rality ofspaced points for convenient grasp by an operator.

7. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle forconditionin solution, a dip roll dipping into said solution, slideablebearing members for said clip roll, guideways in which said bearingmembers are positioned on said receptacle for sliding movement, asqueeze roll disposed to form a hip with said clip roll, bearings forsaid squeeze roll, a pivot for each of said squeeze roll bearingsdisposed laterally of the axis of said dip roll and about which saidsqueeze roll and its bearings may be pivoted from an operative positionwith said squeeze roll in engagement with said dip roll to aninoperative position laterally of said dip roll, means attached to saidsqueeze roll bearings and said receptacle for yieldingly urging saidsqueeze roll toward said dip roll, and a yieldable guide enclosing themajor portion of said dip roll and extending from a line above the axisthereof in a curved path downwardly around said dip roll and upwardly ina curved path directed toward said hip to a line above the axis of saiddip roll for directing an article to be conditioned to follow said diproll into said receptacle to be immersed in conditioning solutiontherein and then into the nip between the dip roll and squeeze roll toremove excess conditioning solution from the article, means for feedingthe article downwardly between the guide and dip roll and means torotate the rolls whereby the article passes around the dip roll andthrough the nip between the rolls and toward said feeding means.

8. In a conditioning machine, the combination of a receptacle forconditioning solution, a dip roll, slideable bearing members for saiddip roll, guideways in which said bearing members are positiened on saidreceptacle for slidin movement, said dip roll having a peripheralsurface which is yieldable and which is bathed in said solution, asqueeze roll disposed above said dip roll and forming a hip with saiddip roll, bearings for said squeeze roll, a pivot for each of saidsqueeze roll bearings disposed laterally of the axis of said clip rolland about which said squeeze roll and its bearings may be pivoted froman operative position with said squeeze roll in engagement with said diproll to an inoperative position laterally of said clip roll, meanyieldingly urging said squeeze roll toward said dip roll, a dip rollguide enclosing the major portion of said dip roll and extending from aline above the axis thereof in a curved path downwardly around said diproll and upwardly in a curved path directed toward said hip to a lineabove the axis of said clip roll, said guide being formed of yieldablesheet metal and being disposed so as to yieldingly bring an article tobe treated into engagement with said dip roll as the article moves withsaid clip roll into said solution in said receptacle and for directingsaid article into the nip between said dip roll and squeeze roll for theremoval of excess conditioning solution from the article, a tableextendin forwardly of the dip and squeeze rolls for the reception of thev article after passing through the nip between said rolls, a feed chutedisposed above said dip roll and dip roll guide for directing an articleto be treated between the guide and said clip roll, and

means to rotate said rolls whereby the article passes around the diproll and through the nip between the rolls and toward said feed chute.

CHRISTIAN MUSSER STAUFFER. GEORGE E. EHLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 920,529 Bradley May 4, 19091,115,341 Schutz Oct. 27, 1914 1,846,201 Hoffmeister Feb. 23, 19321,866,003 Ashworth July 5, 1932 1,867,594 Rowe July 19, 1932 1,927,954Schoenky Sept. 26', 1933 2,237,429 Harrington Apr 8, 1941

